The Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting atop the Western Conference, and on the surface, they don’t look like a team in urgent need of reinforcements. Despite back-to-back losses to the Pacers and Raptors, they’ve built enough of a cushion to stay in control of the one-seed for now. Help is also on the way - Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell are expected back soon, and Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein are progressing toward returns as well.
But even the best teams have soft spots, and for the Thunder, it’s been the bench’s inconsistency from beyond the arc.
Let’s be clear: OKC has been one of the league’s most complete teams this season. Their defense is long, switchable, and disruptive.
Offensively, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to play at an MVP level, and the team’s ball movement and spacing have been elite. But when the outside shots aren’t falling - particularly from the supporting cast - things can grind to a halt.
In their recent losses, the numbers tell the story. Against Indiana, the Thunder shot just 26.9% from deep.
Against Toronto, they dipped even lower to 25.6%. Both games were decided by razor-thin margins - a combined five points - and in both, a few more made threes could’ve flipped the outcome.
That’s where someone like Luke Kennard enters the conversation.
Kennard is quietly having a strong year in Atlanta, averaging 7.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in just over 20 minutes per game. But the real headline is his shooting - he’s hitting a league-best 48.1% from three on solid volume.
That’s not just hot shooting; that’s elite, floor-spacing weaponry. And it’s exactly the kind of skill set that could elevate Oklahoma City’s second unit heading into the postseason.
The Hawks, having already moved on from Trae Young, are clearly pivoting toward a rebuild. Kennard is on an $11 million expiring contract, which makes him a very movable piece.
For the Thunder, who have a treasure chest of draft picks and movable salaries, this is a manageable deal. It wouldn’t take a massive swing - just the right combination of assets to match salary and sweeten the pot for Atlanta.
Defensively, Kennard won’t be locking up opposing stars, but he’s no liability either. He’s a smart team defender with enough length and awareness to hold his own in Oklahoma City’s system. He may not have the ceiling of a player like Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins, but what he brings is reliability - and that’s something the Thunder’s bench could use more of when the playoffs arrive.
Of course, OKC won’t be the only team eyeing Kennard. The Lakers and Pistons are both in the market for shooting help, and Kennard’s contract and skill set make him an attractive target.
But the Thunder have the edge when it comes to assets. The question is less about whether they can make a deal - it’s whether they feel they need to.
With the trade deadline just around the corner, the Thunder front office has a decision to make. Do they stand pat with a roster that’s already proven it can compete with anyone? Or do they make a surgical move to shore up one of the few weaknesses on an otherwise championship-caliber team?
Kennard wouldn’t be a blockbuster acquisition - but sometimes, it’s the subtle moves that make all the difference in a deep playoff run.